November 2, 2015 12:54am ESTNovember 1, 2015 7:19pm ESTBruce Arians called the best game Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer says he has ever been a part of. He brought out their best in a 34-20 win over the Browns.Bruce Arians(Getty Images)

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The Cardinals trailed the Cleveland Browns 20-10 at FirstEnergy Stadium, a performance that resembled a 25-13 loss at Pittsburgh on Oct. 18. Arizona coach Bruce Arians — or B.A. — came in and delivered what defensive end Frostee Rucker called a “frank conversation.” Fitzgerald said they were challenged with the “contender or pretender” speech. Palmer didn’t mind one bit.

“We knew we were in for one when he came in at halftime and that’s what makes him a great coach,” Palmer said. “There aren’t a lot of coaches who have the guts to do that. He could care less. He’s going to come in and tell you like it is.”

Arians tells it like this after the Cardinals ripped off 24 unanswered points in a 34-20 victory to head into the bye week at 6-2 with the look of a NFC contender that is now 3-1 on the road.

“I liked the attitude at halftime,” Arians said. “Pissed off the way it should be. Didn’t have to say much to them. They took it upon themselves, especially the leaders, to get what was out there corrected.”

Leaders being that group of thirtysomethings that hold the keys to how far this Arizona team might go in the second half of the season and into the playoffs.

Palmer, 35, knew the 20-mph Lake Erie winds from his days with the Bengals. He said the adjustment came at halftime. Time to put the ball on a line. That led to back-to-back touchdown passes to start the second half to give Arizona the lead. The Cardinals committed two more of their four turnovers in the third quarter, but Palmer said Arians stayed hot on the play-calling, too.

"That was the best called game I've ever been a part of,” Palmer said. “That was the best called game since junior Pop Warner pee-wee football when I was playing for the Mission Viejo Cowboys and you were only getting Cover 1. Bruce was on fire today.”

Palmer nearly rushed for his first TD in a Cardinals uniform but was tripped up at the 1 yard line. He threw the back-breaking touchdown to Fitzgerald two plays later. The offense didn’t freak out.

"We've got a bunch of vets who don't freak out, don't over-react and just continue to play,” Palmer added.

Palmer finished with 374 yards and his second four-TD game of the season. He’s on pace for a career-high 40 TDs this season, not to mention 12 interceptions, which would match his lowest total since 2005. Fitzgerald, 32, had nine catches for 84 yards and continues to lead a young group of receivers that is improving with each week.

Those other thirtysomethings contributed on both sides. Chris Johnson totaled 30 carries for 109 yards despite two fumbles. Dwight Freeney had a sack. Cory Redding recovered a fumble. That’s the core that’s been here before. It rubbed off on the younger guys. Tight end Troy Niklas caught two touchdowns. J.J. Nelson and Jaron Brown made big catches.

The Cardinals hit the bye week and the next road trip to Seattle on Nov. 15 means a little more. That’s part of two with the Seahawks, and the Bengals, Packers, Rams and Vikings are on the other side. The mix of veteran-and-young talent in Arizona is good enough to win the NFC West. Is it good enough to win more than that?

Following the victory, Fitzgerald sprinted up the ramp toward the visitor’s locker room with one thing in mind.

“Cold tub!” he screamed “Cold tub!”

That’s a reminder those veterans will need to stay healthy to make that possible. In between, it’s about managing the hot and cold portions that will come.

“We have not played our best football yet,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ve had some good stretches. We put together halves and three quarters before, but we have put together a full game where I can say, 'That’s a game that’s indicative of the team we’re capable of being.'"